LM Montgomery committed suicide?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Hi Ant,

Actually, she moved to the Muskoka area/north of Toronto area when she married her Minister husband and lived a good deal of her life there. She died in that area, I believe. In addition to writing, she was the 'good Minister's wife' as well completing her churchly responsibilities, looking out for the poor and needy in the congregation, and doing the necessary community work that went with the 'job' at the time.

The Blue Castle is out of print (and it hasn't been reprinted yet, unfortunately) but I did find copies available for sale on Amazon. My original copy was so dog-earred it was falling apart from so much re-reading. I am sure you will love it. I re-read it whenever I am in need of a 'lift'. I really believe in many ways it offered for LM Montgomery the 'freedom' that she herself never enjoyed.

Kathryn

Hi Kathryn41,

Thanks for the book recommendation. I'll definitely have to check out "The Blue Castle" by LM Montgomery too. Yes, writers do write to escape dull and boring lives....

It's interesting too, that she would set this book in Muskoka, Ontario instead of PEI. If I remember correctly, didn't she spend some of her life in Ontario too?

Ant (In search of a "Blue Castle"...)

Actually, my favourite LM Montgomery is The Blue Castle. It is not an Anne book. Montgomery did not have a particularly happy marriage and I have often wondered if this story contains her wishes for what she wanted from her own marriage - and never got. I suspect her writings were often her escape from the rather dull and gruelling life as the wife of a staid minister and rather unpleasant man. The Blue Castle is a romance set in Muskoka and absolutely wonderful.

[antda 13]

Hi Kathryn,

Wow, that's interesting to learn that LM Montgomery lived in the Muskoka area before. I always thought that she had lived in Toronto area, and never knew that she lived further north. Muskoka is a beautiful area indeed, as I remember going there before on a trip to see the fall colours on the leaves and the cottages around there. No wonder she was inspired to write, both in PEI and in Muskoka, Ontario! It was generous of her too, to help out with the poor and the needy in her church congregation and doing the community work needed there, even though she wasn't happy in her marriage with her Minister husband.

I wonder why "The Blue Castle" would be out of print now? Was it a limited edition book and the publisher didn't print too many copies of it? Or was it because of something else? Yes, I'll definitely have to find a copy of it, and from what you described, it does sound like something I would like to read. What's your favourite part of this book? Glad that you found this book "uplifting" in that reading about it you read the 'freedoms' that LM Montgomery wanted to have. No wonder your copy of the book is frayed and dog-earred, as you read it so many times and have gotten so much joy out of it over the years!

Funny, the best books to read are the ones that are always frayed, tattered, dog-earred, and in not the best condition, because of it's constant use. I guess the old saying "you can't judge a book by it's cover" certainly holds true here, as while the inside is not the best, the inside is always the best to read about!

Hmmm..."Canadian Literature VJ Book Club" anyone? The first set of books to read: LM Montgomery books!...

Ant (Looking for the books that don't have the best cover...)

Hi Ant,

Actually, she moved to the Muskoka area/north of Toronto area when she married her Minister husband and lived a good deal of her life there. She died in that area, I believe. In addition to writing, she was the 'good Minister's wife' as well completing her churchly responsibilities, looking out for the poor and needy in the congregation, and doing the necessary community work that went with the 'job' at the time.

The Blue Castle is out of print (and it hasn't been reprinted yet, unfortunately) but I did find copies available for sale on Amazon. My original copy was so dog-earred it was falling apart from so much re-reading. I am sure you will love it. I re-read it whenever I am in need of a 'lift'. I really believe in many ways it offered for LM Montgomery the 'freedom' that she herself never enjoyed.

Kathryn

Hi Kathryn41,

Thanks for the book recommendation. I'll definitely have to check out "The Blue Castle" by LM Montgomery too. Yes, writers do write to escape dull and boring lives....

It's interesting too, that she would set this book in Muskoka, Ontario instead of PEI. If I remember correctly, didn't she spend some of her life in Ontario too?

Ant (In search of a "Blue Castle"...)

Actually, my favourite LM Montgomery is The Blue Castle. It is not an Anne book. Montgomery did not have a particularly happy marriage and I have often wondered if this story contains her wishes for what she wanted from her own marriage - and never got. I suspect her writings were often her escape from the rather dull and gruelling life as the wife of a staid minister and rather unpleasant man. The Blue Castle is a romance set in Muskoka and absolutely wonderful.

[thetreble 19]

Well my major at university was actually Canadian literature so if any of you would like some canadian suggestions, Id happily provide them. Canadian literature is extremely fascinating (far from what most canadians and other parts of the world think!!) and we have so many great authors. I'm pretty well versed in Canadian lit new and old so do not be afraid to ask!

Id love to teach Canadian lit at university andwould have had the chance to do so at carleton university in ottawa. I highly doubt they would let me forge a new course on it here in NJ.